72 V20 closed bow

[RetNav]

I have a spare closed bow V20 with the saddle tanks and am wanting to put
a 60 gal tank in the floor, like my V20 sport fisherman. I have access to a
tank with all the fittings, in a junker 20' sportscraft boat I can use.

Is this doable or not?

[Destroyer]

Sounds like it might be, but without knowing all the tanks dimensions and the area in the hull that you want to put it in, it's really impossible to say for certain.

Meausre the area you want to install it into, then measure the tank.

[reelapeelin]

Originally Posted by RetNav

I have a spare closed bow V20 with the saddle tanks and am wanting to put
a 60 gal tank in the floor, like my V20 sport fisherman. I have access to a
tank with all the fittings, in a junker 20' sportscraft boat I can use.

Is this doable or not?

The transition to belly tanks from saddles took place over several year models for Wellcraft...'78-'83...but the 1st thing that they did was raise the floor just above outside water level in order to make it self-draining...so there is more vertical space under the later model floor decks than your 70's model like the one pictured below...Wellcraft advised me not to try it way back when I wanted to trash the saddles, but somebody here did do it...

Also, they moved it forward and back...as in my '84 is all the way back to the front of the splashwell...the '95 V21 I had was about mid way of the cockpit...which is where I'd put it if I's gonna try that conversion...there's already too much weight on the aft end of these boats...

And you wanna check to see if the tank you intend to use will fit between the stringers...you probably don't wanna start relocating those...

[buckleyjr]

Originally Posted by reelapeelin

The transition to belly tanks from saddles took place over several year models for Wellcraft...'78-'83...but the 1st thing that they did was raise the floor just above outside water level in order to make it self-draining...so there is more vertical space under the later model floor decks than your 70's model like the one pictured below...Wellcraft advised me not to try it way back when I wanted to trash the saddles, but somebody here did do it...

Also, they moved it forward and back...as in my '84 is all the way back to the front of the splashwell...the '95 V21 I had was about mid way of the the cockpit...which is where I'd put it if I's gonna try that conversion...there's already too much weight on the aft end of these boats...

And you wanna check to see if the tank you intend to use will fit between the stringers...you probably don't wanna start relocating those...

Great info, Reel! Especially the point about the raised deck in the later models. I didn't know about that.

[reelapeelin]

Originally Posted by buckleyjr

Great info, Reel! Especially the point about the raised deck in the later models. I didn't know about that.

Thanks Buckley...another point to that transition was the cap grew in height along w/the floor being raised...one thing lead to another...on the 70s models it was only about 2" or so above the rub rail...once the floor moved up, the cap grew in height to around 6" or so...I'm guessing on those height estimates...never actually measured them and of course it depends on where it's measured, but you get the idea...

[RetNav]

I appreciate the responses.

I haven't done any measuring as it is raining constantly here. Before any changes are done everything will be thoroughly measures and checked for fit prior to doing any cutting.

If it won't fit between the stringers it will remain a saddle tank boat.

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by RetNav

If it won't fit between the stringers it will remain a saddle tank boat.

If the reason you're thinking of changing is due to weight distribution by draining one saddle tank at a time, be aware that several guys have rigged both of their saddle tanks to drain at the same time, so the weight stays balanced. It's really not hard to do. Take out the flow valve for one tank or the other and install a "t" in it's place and you're done.

[RetNav]

Thanks Destroyer, I never thought of doing that. It would be the easiest to accomplish.

[axespino]

I plugged the dip tubes in my V because there were pinholes in the tubes and started to suck in air. I steamed the tanks and had the weld shop put a nipple 1" from the bottom of the tank.

[RetNav]

What we were originally looking for was more gas. The available tank is 60 gallons and the saddle tanks are a total of 40 gallons. We have decided to install an 28 gal tank in the cuddy walkway, put a selector switch in the back leading to all three tanks and practice fuel management.
All this plus installing Bennett tabs will improve both range and ride.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Maybe I can repay with some advice somewhere.